Wednesday, August 19, 2009 $1.19 plus 6¢ GST, $1.25 U.S.Printed in Canada Volume 115 Number 16

www.fortfrances.comemail: info@fortfrances.com ISSN 0834-6283 PAP No. 07429

ISSN 0834-6283

Tanner McCormick has spent the first few years of his life bat-tling the effects of being born with an interhemispheric cyst inside his brain, but miraculously the now four-year-old is just like any regular kid. “He likes to do all the things a typical boy his age likes to do,” said his mom, Kristen. “He just doesn’t stop all day long—it’s amazing.

InsideInside

See story on A5

It was young versus younger in the Borderland Soccer Asso-ciation’s men’s final last Wednes-day evening at the Struchan L. H. Gilson Soccer Pitches, so it seemed only fitting that a rookie notched the game-winning goal in Domino’s 2-0 win over Emo. Mike Sande’s goal early in the second half gave Domino’s all the cushion they needed before Tyler Barker salted away the vic-tory with an insurance marker.

SportsSports

See story on C1

Sport-specific training was a label yet to be conceived two decades ago, but that trend has taken a 180-degree turn over the past few years. Terry McMahon was recently certified as a sport conditioning coach through Twist Condition-ing, and has brought this spe-cialized form of training here, offering one-on-one sessions that steer away from equipment and machines towards functional hands-on training.

LifestylesLifestyles

See story on C4

Tanner now ‘just a typical kid’

Domino’s makesit a ‘three-peat’

New fitness option for athletes

By Elisabeth HeslopSummer reporter

Alberton council’s decision to deny a re-zoning amendment ap-plication last Wednesday night is not necessarily the end of the long and controversial story. According to council’s resolu-tion, its decision was based on concerns the proposed use of the land does not sufficiently conform

to the township’s official plan and the intentions behind the “Business Park” zoning currently in place there. If the application had been ap-proved, the proposed purchaser of the property in question, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services Inc., would have moved its Training and Learning Centre (TLC) to Alberton from its current location in Watten Township.

The applicant, township resident Gayle Arpin, has the option to appeal council’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board although neither she nor her agent, Cecil Horne, have said anything definite about their plans. “The bottom line is that we were disappointed in the decision,” Horne said the day after the coun-cil meeting. “Other than that, there’s not a

whole lot that we can say right now. “We have the timeframes that we have to work within and we have other options that we have to consider,” he added. “We need to look at what the rules are ahead of us and how we’re going to pro-ceed.” According to the province’s Plan-ning Act, written notice of the council’s decision must be given to

the applicant no later than 15 days after the date of the decision. The applicant may file an appeal no later than 20 days after the giving of notice is completed. Township administration com-pleted the giving of notice on Friday, Aug. 14, so the last day on which Arpin can file an appeal is Sept. 3. During last Wednesday’s meet-ing, Weechi-it-te-win’s legal rep-

resentative, Clint Calder, said that “Weechi-it-te-win is firm in its re-solve that they believe they have the legal right to be there, and they believe that that’s the best property that they’ve been able to identify and they’re going to pursue it to the end.” But until Arpin and Horne de-cide whether or not to appeal council’s ruling, Weechi-it-te-win is

By Duane HicksStaff writer

The miserable weather this sum-mer appears to have put a damper on any West Nile virus activity in the Kenora-Rainy River Districts. Al Mathers, environmental health officer with the Northwestern Health Unit, said they once again have been trapping mosquitoes on a weekly basis in the Fort Frances, Kenora, and Dryden areas, and testing them for the virus, but no positive signs of it have turned up yet. “We catch mosquitoes, but there’s no virus being detected. There’s just not enough cumulative days of sufficient heat to get the virus moving in the mosquitoes,” noted Mathers. “It’s been a very, very quiet year. “It’s been quiet because there’s been no amplification of the virus within the mosquito,” he added, noting that as far as he’s aware, there seems to be a lull in West Nile activity elsewhere in Ontario and the rest of Canada. Mathers explained that, quite literally, the temperature has to be warmer for a sustained period of time for the virus to circulate in the Culex breed of mosquito which carries it. If there’s no high heat, it just doesn’t occur. “I think if we had had a hot sum-mer, we would have seen some-thing different across the province.

But with the cool, damp summer this year, there just wasn’t enough nice days to get them moving,” he remarked, adding there’s cer-tainly mosquitoes out there biting, “they’re just not carrying the vi-rus.” Mathers said if the summer had been hotter, he believes testing would have turned up some West Nile-positive mosquitoes in the re-gion. “I don’t think there would have been that many of them because this is a low-risk area, but I think we would have found a little bit. “And across the province, I think we would have seen a lot more activity, especially in the southern regions where the Culex mosquito is in larger abundance.” For sevens years now, health unit staff have used the traps to collect mosquito samples from late June to September. The purpose is to determine what species of mos-quito are most common in the two districts. In past years, only a small per-centage of all the samples collected in the region were specimens of the main virus-carrying mosquito species, the Culex (or common house mosquito). This means the chances of see-ing the Culex breed (and thus the virus) here remain slim. Mosquito season usually tapers off in September, and any mosqui-toes spotted in the latter part of

By Elisabeth HeslopSummer reporter

“Stunned, shocked, overwhelmed. . . .” Those are the words Taylor Pelepetz used to describe her re-action to winning this year’s Emo Fair queen crown after the talent show last Thursday evening. But if those words made it sound like she didn’t want the honour, her enormous smile immediately proved otherwise. Flanked by First Princess Ma-rissa Kinnear and Second Princess Tasha-Lynn McNally, Pelepetz said she’d hoped, but not really ex-pected, to win. She added the various events leading to that moment all were part of the experience. “It was a blast,” Pelepetz en-thused, adding the hard work was “definitely worth it.” Kinnear, who also was chosen

by her fellow contestants as “Miss Congeniality,” agreed it was a worthwhile experience. “I’m feeling pretty good,” she remarked. “I’d recommend it to anyone.” “It was a little hard with me and my sister both doing floats,” ad-mitted Kinnear’s sister and fellow princess, McNally, but she also said the whole experience was great fun. Now that the suspense is finally over, the three young women can get down to the business of rep-resenting the Emo Fair at various events. But Pelepetz also had some immediate goals. “Now? Take these heels off and take a shower,” she laughed, then looked a little farther into the fu-ture. “And then, make some memo-ries,” she said. The four contestants, who also

Pelepetz crowned 2009 fair queen

Dana Elders, left, Lauren Gurski, and Brit-tany Hayes rehearsed their “Honey Honey” number Sunday afternoon in preparation for the upcoming “True Up North Mamma Mia” musical, which will be performed tomorrow

through Saturday (Aug. 20-22) at 7:30 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre. Tickets, which cost $10 for adults and $6 for children under 12, are available at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts here. —Heather Latter photo

Dress rehearsal

By Peggy RevellStaff writer

After years of hard work and planning, Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation is set to celebrate this weekend with the community’s newly-built pow-wow grounds. “This is designed for our people, for many generations,” Chief Gary Allen said about the new grounds that overlook a sandy beach on Rainy Lake’s Swell Bay. “It’s for everybody,” he stressed, extending an invitation to every-one to join Nigigoonsiminikaaning this weekend for its annual pow-wow that will celebrate the new grounds. All of the facilities are new, noted Chief Allen, since there have been no pow-wow grounds for some 30-40 years within the community, which is located on Highway 11 about 40 km east of Fort Frances. The design of the grounds is a “little bit different,” said band gen-eral manager Judy Morrison, point-ing to the U-shape of the arbour seating—designed so people can see out over the beach and onto the water. “We wanted people to get as much as the view as possible,” she

Please see “Pow-wow,” A6

First year 4-H’er Nick Teeple, 10, proudly showed off his Charolais-Simmental cross named “Buddy,” who took the Grand Champion market steer title at the Rainy River Valley

Agricultural Society’s Fall Fair in Emo over the weekend. The steer was purchased by Dan Loney of Cloverleaf Gro-cery for $2.64 per pound. —Heather Latter photo

Champion steer

Alberton council votes down re-zoning request

Please see “Alberton,” A7

Pow-wow groundsset to open

Please see “Pelepetz,” A7

Please see “No,” A7

No signs of West Nile virusthis summer

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A6 FORT FRANCES TIMES Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Expect showers and thunder-storms tonight, along with patchy fog. Look for an overnight low of 12 C (53 F), with southeast winds gusting up to 15 m.p.h. Tomorrow will see possible show-ers and a thunderstorm, along with a high of 18 (64) and low around 10 (50). Friday will bring partly sunny skies, along with a high of 20 (68) and low dropping to eight (46). More sunshine is forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with highs reaching 22 (72) and 24 (75), respectively. Lows will be around

10 (50) and 12 (53). The extended outlook calls for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday, with a high of 24 (76) and low near 12 (54). Then Tuesday will be partly cloudy, along with a high of 22 (72) and low back down to eight (46). The record high for today is 34 (93) set in 1976 while the record low is one (34) set in 1977. Nor-mals are 24 (75) and 11 (52). Sunset tonight is at 8:20 p.m., with sunrise tomorrow at 6:14 a.m.

More from A1said, noting the design also means room for those attending pow-wows to set up lawn chairs. People also can take in the view from the two observation areas that have been built further back from the water that overlook the site. Constructed near the communi-ty’s roundhouse that was built two years ago, the grounds also include campgrounds, room for vendors, access to the beach, as well as a loop road and access roads being built all the way around the site. An important part of the set-up design of the grounds was making it accessible for the elders, Chief Allen said, explaining they’ve lo-cated elder parking right next to the stadium, vendors, and other facilities. With the sod for the dancers having been freshly laid down this week, they will be ready to go for this weekend, he said, but will continue to make additions to the grounds—such as laying down more sod in the parking area—afterwards. “I find it really exciting,” Mor-rison said of the project, add-ing they’re slowly looking at what else can be added to the site in the future—from a children’s play-ground, spray park, docks, and further campsites to possibly even eco-tourism. And with the building of these grounds, or any projects which the community is working on, Chief Allen encouraged anyone with questions to come see them. “We like to see people here,

come and ask questions,” he said, stressing it’s part of education to build understanding between com-munities and neighbours. “Come and see us, we’re very open,” he remarked. The building of the new grounds has been a “really big community effort,” said Larry George of Fort Frances, who was the general con-tractor for the project. The band has committed a lot of resources to the project, Chief Al-len explained, with the funds being raised within the community. Lo-cal residents have been employed

to build the grounds, as well, he added. “It’s leaving a legacy, a positive legacy, for children,” Chief Allen said about being involved with a project like this. “It really instills pride in the community.” For those who wish to see the new grounds, Chief Allen said they should come out their sixth annual pow-wow running Aug. 21-23. Warm-ups are scheduled for the Friday. Then on Saturday, grand entry is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a fish fry also that evening from about 5-6 p.m.

On Sunday, the grand entry is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The community will be wel-coming numerous guests for the grand opening, added Chief Allen, including Chief Shining Turtle of Whitefish River First Nation (lo-cated on Manitoulin Island), Angus Toulouse, Ontario’s Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, and local MP John Rafferty. For more information about the new grounds, as well as this week-end’s pow-wow, visit www.nigigo-onsiminikaaning.ca

Pow-wow groundsset to open

Sunny weekend in store

Construction was busily underway last week at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation to fin-ish the community’s new pow-wow grounds which overlook Swell Bay on Rainy Lake. The community will be hosting a pow-wow this weekend to celebrate the new grounds—and are inviting all to attend. —Peggy Revell photo

for healthy living

See me first

Please ask your Safeway Pharmacist for details by inquiringat the Pharmacy department.

Ask about the Safeway PharmacyMed-Pak Program!

Do you take more than one medication?Ever find yourself forgetting to take yourmedication? Med-Pak is a convenientbubble-pack card designed to hold multiplemedications. Please contact yourSafeway Pharmacy for more information.

FORT FRANCES SAFEWAY PHARMACYPHONE (807)274-0363

Do you have experience working with Children and Youth?Do you have experience working with Children and Youth?Confederation College is pleased to offer aPart-Time Child & Youth Worker Program

Classes begin September 2009!Tuesday and Thursday evenings • 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Contact us at:Confederation College - Rainy River District Campus

440 McIrvine Road Fort Frances, ON P9A 3T8

Phone: (807) 274-5395 • Fax: (807) 274-2462Email: fortfrancescampus@confederationc.on.ca

www.confederationc.on.ca

Rainy River District Campus

CHILD & YOUTH WORKER PROGRAM

RAINY RIVER DISTRICT SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BOARD

SEEKS ALL LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS IN THE RAINY

RIVER DISTRICT NEEDING REPAIRS TO THEIR PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE.

Interested homeowners should apply to take advantage of the Northern component of the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program (AHP).

Qualifying homeowners will receive funding from RRDSSAB to undertake repairs of modest and affordable ownership housing.

The Northern component of the AHP aims to maintain the affordable housing stock in northern Ontario.Applications and additional information are available from

Metis Nation of Ontario, Housing Branch, 226 South May Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1B4, acting as delivery for RRDSSAB.

Business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).For more information contact:

Robynn MalugaMetis Nation of Ontario, Housing Branch

226 South May StreetThunder Bay, ON P7E 1B4

1-800-891-5882 ext. 23Paid for in part by the Government of Ontario.

Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board

HOMEOWNERS

Shawna Beaulieu

Nursery School R E G I S T R AT I O N

Wednesday, August 26th10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Upstairs Knox United Church340 Church Street, Fort Frances

Laurel Basaraba 274-5653

A fun pre-school program offering a

variety of stimulating and educational

activities to enrich your child’s

development.

CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 5 WELCOME

Choose any SessionsMonday through Thursday

8:45 to 11:15 or 12:45 to 3:15

Bring your child’s immunization record.

Prepare your Preschooler for school Success!Prepare your Preschooler for school Success!

1. All students who did not register in June are requested to pay fees in the FFHS Atrium Area/Main offi ce between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the following dates. Students are asked to use the Main Entrance.

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 - GRADE 12Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 - GRADE 11 & 10

Thursday, August 27th, 2009 - GRADE 9

New and returning students are welcome to register on Wednesday or Thursday, however they will require an appointment with an Administrator at the Main Offi ce before registering for classes. Please call the Main Offi ce at 807-274-7747 for an appointment time.**New students refer to students who are coming to FFHS from another School District, Province, or Out of Country and returning students refers to those students who have previously withdrawn from FFHS.

2. The fi rst day of classes for students at Fort Frances High School and UNFC is:

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 8:45 a.m.

3. Student Registration Fees for 2009-10:Grades 9-12Activity Fee: $25Year: $25Total: $50Textbooks and Internet privileges will be made available once the registration fee has been paid. Outstanding debts for equipment, textbooks, and library books may be cleared up at this time.**All students who are taking a Physical Education course will be required to purchase a school uniform or use the one purchased from last year, costs are as follows:T-shirts $10Shorts $20Pants $25Gym clothes will be available Thursday, August 27th.(Please issue a separate cheque for clothes--Thank you).

4. Students are reminded that school photos have been scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2009. Photo information packages are available in the main offi ce.

**All students will be required to have their photo ID taken since it will also be used as a library card.

5. Students will be pre-assigned lockers. Locks are provided by the school.

Information and updates regarding school activities can be located at http://muskie.rrdsb.comThis will be the fi nal time registration will take place in August. Registration for classes in 2010-2011 at Fort High will take place in June, 2010.

Fort FrancesHigh School Opening

266 Scott Street 274-9565274-9565

Betty’sSummer Sale Continues

Point Zero Tops & Bottoms Point Zero Tops & Bottoms from $999

Tribal Tops & Bottoms Tribal Tops & Bottoms from $999

TXT Carbon Tops TXT Carbon Tops from $999

Special Rack Miscellaneous Tops Special Rack Miscellaneous Tops $999

Special RacksSpecial Racks ½ Price½ PriceSouvenir T-ShirtsSouvenir T-Shirts $999

Adult Canada Fleece HoodiesAdult Canada Fleece Hoodies Reg $7999 $2999

Open Monday - Saturday 9am to 5pm Open Monday - Saturday 9am to 5pm

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The diffi culty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Friday.

Sudoku

Yesterday’ssolution

August 19, A6.indd 1August 19, A6.indd 1 8/19/09 10:50:10 AM8/19/09 10:50:10 AM